Fencepost



Aug.- 16, 1.927.

J. W. 1MEAKER ET Al. v

FENCEPOST Filed Feb. l. 1924 lil K MH

Patented Aug. 1.6, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W'. MEAKEB, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND WILLIAM 1. GLEASON, 0F GARY, INDIANA.

Application led February 1, 1924. Serial No. 689,976.

This invention relates to a new and improved fence post and more particularly to a metal post and to such a post provided with integral means adapted to restrain movement of fence wires vertically of the ost.

A metal fence post in order to be commercially practicable must be formed with a cross section providing very considerable resistance to flexure without excessive welght. Excessive weight not only increases handling cost but materially increases the cost of the post itself since the cost is directly based upon the weight of metal 1n the post. It is particularly necessary that the post have stability in a direction normal to the line of the fence which the post supports. The greatest stresses which the post must resist will take effect in this direction and moreover stresses along the fence line will be distributed between adjacent posts by the fence wires.

Fence wires are normally secured to posts of this character by means of wires, clips or ties, and it is essential to provide means for preventing movement of the wires and ties vertically of the post. Further, with usual types of T-shaped or L-shaped posts, it is necessary to bend the securing clips around relatively sharp edges which have a tendency to shear the clips if bent down with a sharp blow.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and im roved metal fence post having a T-shape cross section and provided with a bulb upon the leg of the T so as to provide a maximum strength against normal bending stress with a minimum of materlal.

It is a further object to-provide a metal fence post which has formed therein means for preventing vertical displacement of fence wires, said means being operative regardless of the portion'of the post engaged by the wire..

It is also an object to provide a post adapted to retain in place wire engaging clips and to provide rounded surfaces engaging said clips.

1t is an additional olect to provide a post construction adapted yfor commercial production by the rolling process.

Other and further objects will appear as the description proceeds.

Ve have illustrated a preferred embodiment of our invention in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a face view of the post;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view on an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 2; and

Figure 5 is a section vtaken on line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

As best shown in Figure 2, the post is formed T-shape in cross section having the web or leg of the. T 5 provided upon its edge with the bulb (i. The web 5 is joined to the cross of the T or flange 7 by fillets 8. The edges of the flange 7 are formed in the rolling process to provide spaced serrations having the high points 9 and the low points 10. The serrations extend to the rear face of the flange 7 and the portions 11 opposite the low points 10 extend beyond the rear face'of the web. The recesses or depressions 12 are formed opposite the high points 9. It will be noted that the entire front surface of the serrations is locatedin advance of the central flat face 13 of the Harige 7 the depressed portions or low points 10 being materially in advance of the surface 13 as clearly shown in Figure 3.

As shown in Figure 1, the post is pointed at 14 upon its lower end and may be provided with the holding spade 15 which has turned up flanges 16 secured to the web-5 bly means of rivets 17. The form of spade siown is provided with the bent-up portions 18 which aid in retaining it in the ground.

As shown in Figure 2, a wire 19 may rest adjacent the low portions 10 of the serrations and be held in position by a clip 20, the rear end 21 of which maybe bent around the rounded surface of the bulb 6 to retain Y wire to' be held out of contact with'the flat face regardless of the vertical position ofthe Wire'. The Wire is thus not held too tightly against longitudinal movement and may slip under stress suiiiciently to yield and avoid rupture of the Wire or` fence. The fact that the serrations extend to the rear aids in preventing slipping of the Wirey retaining clips.

The metal` of the post is so distributed about'the neutral axis as to give very high resistance to bending in the direction paralle'l to the web of-the post. -It is in this direction that the maximum stresses may be expected. The, post asstated is preferably provided with a spade in order to give adequate bearing against the ground to supi v port stress in this direction. The yweb itself serves to give adequate anchorage aga-inst displacement inthe direction normal to the web since this direction is parallel to the fence line-Where but small stresses are to be expected and Where adjacent posts support each other by means of the fence.

l/Ve claim: i r

l. A metal fence post or the like T-shaped in 'cross-section and having a fiat face and serrations along an edge of the face, said serrations having relatively narrow wire engaging portions and extending to the rear of the face whereby vertical displacement of Wire-engaging clips is prevented.

2. A metal fence post or the like, T-shaped in cross section and having a fiat face, serrations along both edges -of the aceadapted to prevent vertical displacement' of the Wire, the serrations having relatively narrow wire engaging portions and extending beyond the face throughout their extent whereby fence Wire may be maintained out of contact with the face and extending to the rear of the face whereby vertical displacement of Wire engaging clips is prevented,

3. A metal fence post or the like, T-shaped in cross section and provided with a bulb formed at the bottom ofthe leg of/the T, said post having a flat face and serrations along 'both edges of the'face, the high and 10W points of the two series of serrations being similar and opposite each other whereby wire may be engaged at spaced points to prevent vertical displacement thereof, the serrations having relatively narrow Wire engaging portions and being beyond the liat face throughout their extent whereby fence Wire is maintained out of contact with the post face,.and the bulb serving as a rounded siraoe about which to'bend a Wire engaging c 1p. l

` Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 14th day of January, 1924.

, JOHN lV. MEAKER. Signedat Gary, Indiana., this 19th day of January, ,1924. v VILLIAM P. GLEASON. 

